Engineering

Bachelor of Philosophy in Technology in Construction Management

The Bachelor of Philosophy in Technology in Construction Management is a two-year integrated postgraduate technical programme at the Technical University of Kenya that prepares diploma holders for advanced construction management practice. Students study construction technology, project management, quantity surveying, contract administration, building services and construction economics. The programme builds on prior diploma training to develop specialist construction management competencies.

Students develop advanced competencies in construction planning, project control, cost management, contract administration, quality management and site supervision. They learn to manage construction projects, coordinate subcontractors, control costs, ensure quality and deliver projects on time. The programme covers construction management, building technology, contracts, cost management and project delivery.

In Kenya, construction management is essential for infrastructure, housing and commercial development. Kenya's construction industry, Vision 2030 projects and urbanisation create demand. The Technical University of Kenya offers this programme through its School of Architecture and the Built Environment. Graduates find roles in construction companies, project management firms, real estate developers, government construction departments and consulting firms.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, site visits, project simulations and research projects. Students prepare construction plans, manage project schedules, prepare cost estimates and undertake a final research project.

Graduates pursue careers as construction managers, project managers, site managers, contract administrators, quantity surveyors and project coordinators. Some work for construction firms. Others join developers, consultants or establish construction management consultancies.

This programme is ideal for diploma holders in building construction, civil engineering, architecture or related fields seeking advanced construction management technical skills.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 199,500
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Construction Technology and Methods
Construction Project Management
Construction Economics and Cost Management
Contract Administration and Law
Quantity Surveying and Estimating
Building Services and Sustainability
Construction Planning and Scheduling
Quality and Safety Management
Construction Information Technology
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Construction Technology and Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Construction Technology and Methods: Building construction, materials, methods and construction processes Covers construction technology, materials science, and project execution.
Construction Project Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Construction Project Management: Project management principles applied to construction projects Covers project lifecycle, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
Construction Economics and Cost Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Construction Economics and Cost Management: Cost estimation, budgeting, cost control and construction economics Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Contract Administration and Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Contract Administration and Law: Construction contracts, FIDIC, claims, disputes and legal issues Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Quantity Surveying and Estimating
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Measurement, bills of quantities, estimating and valuation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Building Services and Sustainability
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Building Services and Sustainability: Mechanical, electrical, plumbing services and sustainable construction Covers construction technology, materials science, and project execution.
Construction Planning and Scheduling
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Construction Planning and Scheduling: Planning, scheduling, resource allocation and project control Covers planning theory, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development practices.
Quality and Safety Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Quality and Safety Management: Quality management, construction safety, OSH and risk management Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Construction Information Technology
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Construction Information Technology: BIM, project management software and construction technology Covers construction technology, materials science, and project execution.
Final Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent construction management research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, c...

Specialisations

Building Services
Specialization in Building Services, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.
Contract Administration
Specialization in Contract Administration, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.
Construction Management
Specialization in Construction Management, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.
Sustainable Construction
Specialization in Sustainable Construction, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.
Project Management
Specialization in Project Management, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.
Quantity Surveying
Specialization in Quantity Surveying, preparing graduates for careers such as construction-project-manager.

A day as a student

A typical day combines construction management lectures with case studies or project simulations. Students may prepare project schedules, cost estimates, contract documents, quality plans or visit construction sites.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for construction managers in Kenya
Builds on diploma for management roles
Diverse career paths in construction and real estate
Practical and project-based training

Against it

Construction industry can be cyclical
Two-year programme is intensive
Site work may involve long hours and travel
Requires strong technical and management skills

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public200k to 200k

200k at Technical University of Kenya200k at Technical University of Kenya

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TUK 90K/sem+19.5K stat=199.5K/yr. Private: unverified. Src: university.co.ke TUK fees

Students may access HELB loans and employer sponsorships. Some county bursaries are available for technical students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
Employer Sponsorship
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Higher Diploma or Diploma in Building Construction, Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field
Credit
Mathematics
C
Physics or any Group II
C
English or Kiswahili
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Case Studies and Project Work
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark
Final Examination and Research Project
Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

National Construction Authority (NCA)
InstitutionalRequired
Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Quantity Surveyor
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages construction costs and valuations
Construction Manager
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages construction projects and teams
Contract Administrator
High demandKsh 65,000 to Ksh 230,000
Administers construction contracts and claims
Project Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Plans and delivers construction projects
Site Manager
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages day-to-day site operations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as construction managers, project managers, site managers, contract administrators, quantity surveyors and project coordinators in construction companies, project management firms, real estate developers, government construction departments and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

MATLAB
Engineering softwarePrimary
Signal processing and communication simulation.
Atoll
Network planning
Radio network planning and optimisation.
Wireshark
Network analysis
Network protocol analysis.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
AutoCAD
DesignPrimary

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Construction management is only for builders
Construction management combines technology, economics, law, project management and leadership.
Construction managers do not need degrees
Modern construction projects require degree-level management and technical skills.
Construction management is only for construction sites
Construction managers also work in planning, estimating, contracts and consultancy.
Diploma holders cannot advance to management
This degree is specifically designed to advance diploma holders to management roles.